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May 29, 1923.

A. ROSNER BATTERY IGNITION SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fileg June 18 1920 luluw' MWQQM IIIIIII Ill Invenior: z/fldoZ 7071/ Roan Patented May 29, 1923.

UNITED STATES MENTS, TO THE LOCOMOBILE COMPANY,

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A

BATTERY-IGNITION SYSTEM.

Application filed June 18,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLPH ROSNER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Battery-Ignition Systems, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, 15' a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to battery ignition systems for internal combustion enginesand aims-first to provide an instrument whlch shall be a complete, self-contained unit capable of taking current to the spark plugs,- second to provide an attractive, compact and highly efiicient ignition unit requiring a minimum of care and attention, but capable of being conveniently and quickly dismount ed for inspection and repalr should the necessity arise, and third to provide an instrument capable of furnishing two sparks simultaneously to each cylinder. Other aims will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one illustrative embodiment thereof, while its scope will more particu larly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of an ignition instrument exemplifying my invention, but with the cover plate of the breaker removed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation looking toward the left in Fig. 2 showing the instrument as it appears with a portion of the casing re-' moved;

Fig. '4 is an elevation looking toward the right in Fig. 2 of the portion of-the casing removed in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the system.

Referring to the drawings and to the em- 1920. Serial No. 389,952.

bodiment of my invention which I have selected for exemplification and referring first to Fig. 6 the system comprises a suitable source of current herein a battery 7 and an ignition coil 8, the latter having a primary winding 9 and a secondary winding 10. The primary winding forms a part of a primary circuit which also includes an interrupter or breaker 11 of any usual or desired construction which per se forms no part of my invention but which I will briefi describe.-

The breaker comprises a rotata le cam 12 having a plurality of lobes 13 corresponding in number to the cylinders. The breaker herein shown for exemplification is double, that is to say it has duplicate sets of parts either of which may be thrown into operation at will in the event of injury to the other, but it should be understood that a double breaker is not essential to my present invention. In the example shown the breaker comprises two arms 14 formed of suitable insulating material such as fiber mounted on pivots 15 and pressed toward the cam by leaf springs 16, the latter being supported on suitable fixed spring mountings 1'1.- These mountings are secured to but insulated from a base plate 18 and are bonnected by appropriate ground wires or conductors 19 to the ground which in the case of a motor car is a metallic frame-work which constitutes a part of the circuit. The springs 16 carry electrodes 20 which cooperate with fixed electrodes 21, the latter being adjustably mounted in lugs 22 herein formed integral with the base plate 18. To the latter a binding post 23 is electrically connected by a screw 24 and said binding post is connected by a wire 25 to the rimary winding 9 of the induction coil. other screw 26 is connected by a conductor 27 to the ground. The screw 26 is secured to but insulated from the base 18. A usual con denser 27 is connected across the breaker by conductors 28 and 29 attached to the screws 24 and 26, respectively.

The breaker mechanism is contained within a metallic casing 30 which also houses 5 (see Fig. 2) and normally held in place by a spring finger 32 (see Fig. 1) and which may be swung aside in a usual and well-known manner to permit the removal of the plate for inspection of the breaker mechanism.

The casing is mounted to turn about the axis of the cam for the purpose of manually advancing and retardingthe spark in known manner, said casing herein being provided with an arm 33 to which a usual operating rod (not shown) may be attached. I

Inoperation the lobes of the cam successively'contact with and swing a fiber breaker arm thereby' separating the movable and fixed electrodes in a well-known manner,

thus breaking the primary circuit at the proper intervals in the operation of the en b I will now describe the high-tension distributor by which the current induced 1n the secondary winding of the coil is distributed to the spark plugs of the cylinders. It should here be remembered that in the present embodiment of my invention two sets of spark plugs are employed, one .pair for each cylinder. I have, therefore, provided two revolving metallic distributor arms 34 and 35 shown in section in Fig. 2 anddiagrammatically in Fig. 6. The arm 34 constantly contacts with a central brush 36 (see Fig. 2)

35 preferably consisting of a carbon pencil which is spring pressed in a well-known manner against the arm by the use of ausual sprin 37. This brush is mounted to slide axial y in ametallic casin 38 which is' connected by a conductor 39 see Figs. 2 and 6) with one end of the secon induction coil. Similarly the other distributor arm 35 constantly contacts with a brush 40 see Fig. 4) Which is eccentrically located wit reference to the axis of the distributor and is connected by a conductor 41 with the other end of the secondary winding.

- The revolving distributor arms 34 and 35 carry electrodes 42 and 43 respectively (see Fig.2). The revolving electrode 42 cooperates with a series of fixed electrodes 44,

shown in elevation in Fig. 3 and diagrammatically in Fig. 6, each of the fixed electrodes being connected by a conductor 45 to a usual spark plug 46. Similarl the revolving electrode'43 cooperates wit a series of fixed electrodes 47 shown in ;4 and diagrammatically in Fig. 6, each of the fixed electrodes being connected by a conductor 48 to a usual spark plug 49.

The spark plu 46 and 49 are provided with usual centraelectrodes 50 and 51, respectively, mounted in insulators 52 and 53, the latter being secured in metallic shelves 54 and 55 to which electrodes 56 and 57 are ary winding 10 of ing secured to a flange elevation in Fig.

secured. The spark plugs are screwed into a cylinder. 58- having a combustion chamber 59 into which the electrodes of the plugs extend and the electrodes are separated by usual gaps which are traversed by the hightension current upon the completion of the circuit to such cylinder by a distributor, it being understood of course, that the two sparks occur simultaneously. The breaker serves in a known manner to break the primary circuit instantaneously during the cooperation of the revolving electrode with the stationary electrode with the distributor. In someinstruments there is actual contact between the revolvin and fixed electrodes, while in others there is no actual contact but the current jumps across an intervening gap such as that represented in Fig. 2. The primary circuit may be opened and closed by a usual manually operated main switch 60 represented diagrammatically in Fig. 6. It

should, of course, be understood that the engine cylinder is ground as is customary.

The foregoing description deals with the general features of an ignition system familiar to those skilled in the art. I will now turn to the novel features of the instrument which exemplify my invention.

The driving mechanism of'the instrument comprises a main or driving shaft 61 suitably mounted as in angular ball bearings 62 and 63 (see Fig. 2). Carried by the shaft and preferably intermediate the bearings is a driving pinion 64 which in the present example is loosely mounted on the shaft and is under control of a usual speed responsive governor, herein comprising a disk 65 secured to the pinion and provided with slots 66 '(see Fig. 5). The provided with pins 68 W0rking in the slots 66 are fulcrumed on pivots 69, the latter be- 70 on the shaft 61 to which is also secured by means of the pins a housing 71 which encloses the governor mechanism (see Fig. 2).- Springs 72 (see Fig. 5) attached to the disk 65 and to the governor weights constantly tend to verge the latter in an inward direction in opposition to the centrifugal force which tends to swin them into an outward direction as the speeg of the shaft increases. As a result the timing of the pinion 64 with relation to the driving shaft 61 is varied in accordance with the variations in the speed of the latter in a manner too well-known to require further description.

The pinion 64 meshes with and drives a gear 73 (see Fig. 2) which is suitably secured to a driven shaft 74, the latter being appropriately mounted as in annular ball bearings 75 and 76. Preferably the gear 73 is intermediate these bearings. To one end of this shaft herein the outer end the breaker cam 12 is appropriately secured as by a screw 77 threaded into the end of the shaft,

governor weights 67 while on the other end of the shaft is mounted a distributor arm carrier 7 8 which is suitably formed of insulating material and is appropriately secured to the shaft as by a pair of screws 79 (see Fig. 3) threaded into a plate 80 (see Fig. 2) which in turn is secured to the shaft by an axially disposed screw 81 threaded into the shaft.

The described driving mechanism is herein encased in a metallic housing which in the present example comprises a body 82 and a cover plate 83 (see Fig. 2), the latter being suitably secured to the former as by a plurality of studs 84 extending through the cover plate 83 and threaded into the body 82, said studs being provided with shoulders 85 which hold the cover plate in place. The body 82 provides a' support for the outer bearings 62 and 75 while the cover plate 83 provides a support for the inner bearings 63 and 7 6.

The described metallic casing is provided with a',chamber 86 for the driving mechanism and it is further provided with a cylindrical recess 87 for the casing 30 of the breaker mechanism. Any excess oil which might be present in the breaker mechanism finds a way of escape through a passage 88 leading from the lower part of the recess 87 into the chamber 86. The latter is intended to be partially filled with a suitable lubricating oil by means of which another driving mechanism is kept thoroughly lubricated. In practice the level of the oil bath will be high enough so that the driving pinion 64 will run in the oil and distribute a supply of the same to the driven gear 73 with which it meshes. A horizontal partition 89 extending across the chamber 86 confines to the bottom of the chamber all of the oil except that which is carried by the driven gear 73. since this prevents an excess of oil from reaching the shaft 74.

In the present embodiment the cover plate 83 for convenience of manufacture is made in two separate parts abutting in a horizontal plane at 90 (see Fig. 2). This is merely for convenience in meshing two cylindrical surfaces 91 and 92 which have as their respective axes the axes of the shafts 61 and T4. The lower part of the cover plate 83 below the dividing line 90 is secured to the body 82 of the casing by screws 93 (see Fig. 5). The described casing particularly houses the entire driving mechanism and maintains the latter partly lubricated while at the same time preventing any of the oil from reaching-the distributor and induction coil.

I will now describe the insulating casing for the distributor and coil. This casing in the present instance comprises a body 94 and a cover 95 (see Fig. 2) both formed of suitable insulating material such as hard rubber molded in the desired form. The

body 94 is herein provided with a cylindrical shoulder 96 received in a corresponding cylindrical recess 97 in the cover plate 83 hereinbefore described and thus maintains the body 94in proper axialalignment with the shaft 74. The other side of the body 94 is provided. with a cylindrical recess 98 in which the revolving distributor arm carrier -78 turns, while a. cylindrical aperture 99 extending entirely through the body 94 presents an opening for the hub of the carrier as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Preferably the stationary electrodes 44 are mold-' ed in place in the body 94 as are also the conductors 45 which lead from the electrodes. The studs 84 which secure the cover plate 83 to the body 82 of the metallic casing also serve to secure the body 94 of the insulating casing to the metallic casing, said'studs to this end being provided with shoulders 100 (see Fig. 2) received in counter bores 101 in the body 94 (see Fig. 3). The latter is further provided with a recess 102 shown in section. in Fig. 2 and in elevation in Fig. 3 which -as will presently appear forms apart of a chamber for thecoil.

The cover 95 is provided with a'cylindrical boss 103 which fits into a corresponding cylindrical recess 104 in the body 94 and thus maintains the cover and body in proper co-axial relationship. The cover is provided with a recess 105 which registers with the recess 98 in the body 94 and forms therewith a chamber within which the distributor arm carrier 78 revolves. Preferably the electrodes 47 are molded in the cover 95 as are also the conductors 48 which le'ad therefrom.

The cover 95 is further provided with a recess 106 shown in section in Fig. 2 and in elevation in Fig. 4 which together with the recess 102 in the body 94 forms a chamber for the coil 8, the latter being suitably secured to the cover 95 as by brackets 107 attached to the plate by bolts 108. Preferably I the connection of the secondary conductors 39 and 41 with the ends of the secondary winding 10 are such that the coil may be detached from thecover by simply removing the bolts, said conductors to this end herein terminating in spring pressed con tacts 109 and 110 (see Figs. 2 and 4) bear ing against-contact plates 111 and 112 to which the ends of the secondary winding may be secured as by solder.

Thus the coil is completely housed in its own individual chamber within the insulat ing casing, yet is conveniently accessible for inspection and repair or replacement by simply removing the cover 95 to which the coil is attached. Should it become necessary to replace the coil this may be accomplished by removing the bolts 108 and withdrawing the coil from the recess 106.

The cover 95 is suitably secured to the body 94 as by extending the studs 84 through studs thus exposing to viewthe entire distributor as well as the coil. It is, therefore,

. unnecessary to detach the body 94 from the {metallic casing unless it should become scription.

necessary to get at-the driving mechanism. The convenience and simplicity of this arrangement will be readily appreciated.

The general operation of the instrument should be obvious from the foregoing de- The outer end of the driving shaft 61 will in practice be provided with a suitable coupling not herein shown connected to and driven by the engine, it being understood, of course, that in installing the instrument the interrupter and distributor must'be set or timed with relation to the cycle of the engine.

Having thus'described one embodiment of my invention but without limiting-myself thereto, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is 1 1. In an ignition instrument taking current from an outside source, the combination of an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, forming, respectively, parts of the primary and secondary circuits, an interrupter for the primary circuit, a distributor for the secondary circuit and parallel driving and driven shafts, the latter driving said interrupter and said distributor, and means on said driving shaft responsiveto variations in the speed of said driving shaft to change the timing of said driven shaft relatively to said driving shaft.

2. In an ignition instrument taking current from an outside source, the combination of an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, forming, respectively,

parts of the primary and secondary circuits, an interrupter for the primary circuit, a distributor' for the secondary circuit, parallel driving and driven shafts, the latter, at opposite ends, respectively, driving said interrupter and distributor, and means, intermediate said interrupter and distributor, for transmitting power from said driving shaft to said driven shaft. 1

3; In an ignition instrument taking current from an outside source, the combination of an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, forming, respectively, parts of the primary and secondary circuits, an interrupter for the primary circuit, a distributor for the secondary circuit, parallel driving and driven shafts, the latter, at opposite ends, respebtivelyfdriving said interrupter and distributor, and means, intermediate said interrupter and distributor, for transmitting power from said driving shaft to said driven shaft, said means including a speed-responsive device for changing the timing of said driven shaft .said driving shaft.

with relation to said driving shaft in ac cordance with variations in the speed of ,4. In an ignition: instrument taking current from an outside source, the combination of an induction coil having prlmary' and secondary windings, -forming, respectively, parts of the. primary and secondary circuits, an interrupter for the primary circuit, a distributor for-the secondary circuit, parallel driving and driven shafts, the latter driving said interrupter and distributor, and mechanism for transmitting power from said driving shaft to said driven shaft,

said mechanism including driving and driven gears, and means responsive to varlations in the speed of the said driving shaft to change thetiming of said driving gear with relation to said driving shaft.

5. In an ignition instrument taking current from an outside source, the combination. of an induction coil having primary and secondary windings,fonning, respectively, parts of the primary and secondary circuits, an interrupter for the primary circuit, a distributor for the Secondary circuit and parallel driving and driven shafts, said interrupter being driven by one end of said driven shaft and said distributor being driven by the other end, a housing for said shafts, and a cover for said distributor, removably mounted on said housing.

In an ignition instrument taking current from an outside source, the combination of an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, forming, respectively, parts of the primary and secondary circuits, an interrupter for the primary circuit, a distributor for the seconday circuit and parallel driving and driven shafts, said in terrupter being driven by one end of said driven shaft and said distributor being driven by the other end, gearing for transmitting power from said driving to said driven shaft, and bearings for said driven shaft, one bearing being interposed between said interrupter and said gearing, and the other being interposed between said gearing and said distributor.

7. In an ignition instrument taking current from an outside source, the combination of an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, forming, respectively, parts of-the primary and secondary circuits, an interrupter for the primary circuit, a distributor for the secondary circuit and parallel driving and driven shafts, said interrupter being driven by one end of said driven shaft and said distributor being driven by the other end, gearing for transmitting power from said driving to said driven shaft, and bearings for said driving shaft, said-gearing being interposed between said bearings.

8. In an ignition instrument taking current from an outside source, the combination of an induction coil having rimary 7 and parallel driving and driven shafts said interrupter being driven by one end of said driven shaft and said distributor being driven by the other end, gearing for transmitting power from said driving to said driven shaft, bearings for said driven shaft one bearing being interposed between said interrupter and said gearing and the other being interposed between said gearing and said distributor, and bearings for said driving shaft, said gearing being interposed between the last-mentioned bearings.

9. In an ignition instrument taking current from an outside source, the combination of an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, forming, respectively, parts of the primary and secondary circuits, an interrupter for the primary circuit, a distributor for the secondary circuit, parallel driving and driven shafts, the latter driving said interrupter and distributor, mechanism for transmitting power from said driving shaft to said driven shaft, and a housing comprising one casing for said shafts and mechanism, and another for said coil and distributor.

10. In an ignition instrument taking current from an outside source, the combination of an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, forming, respectively, parts of the primary and secondary cirouits, an interrupter for the primary circuit, a distributor for the secondary circuit, parallel driving and driven shafts, the latter driving said interrupter and distributor, bearings for said shafts, mechanism for transmitting power from said driving shaft to said driven shaft, and a housing having one chamber for said mechanism and said bearings, another. for said coil, and another for said distributor.

11. In an ignition instrument taking current from an outside source, the combination of an induction coil having primary and secondary'windings, forming, respectively, parts of the primary and secondary circuits, an interrupter for the primary circuit, a distributer for the secondary circuit, parallel driving and driven shafts, the latter driving said interrupter and distributor, mechanism including a speed-responsive timer for transmitting power from said driving shaft tosaid driven shaft, and a housing comprising one casing for said shafts and mechanism, and another for said coil and distributor.

12. In an ignition instrument taking ourrent from an outside source, the combination of an induction 0011 having primary and secondary windings,

ondary windings, forming, respectively,

parts of the primary and secondary circuits, an interrupter for the primary circuit, a distributor for the secondary circuit, parallel driving and driven shafts, the latter driving said interrupter and distributor, mechanism including a speed-responsive timer for transmitting power from said driving shaft to said driven shaft, and a housing having one chamber for said mechanism, another for said coil and another for said distributor.

rent from an outside source, the combination of an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, forming, respectively, parts of the primary and secondary circuits, an interrupter for the primary circuit, a distributor for the secondary circuit, parallel driving and driven shafts, the latter driving said interrupter and distributor, mechanism for transmitting power from said driving shaft to said driven shaft, and a housing, having one chamber for said mechanism, another 'for said coil, another for said interrupter, and another for said distributor.

14. In an ignition instrument taking current from an outside source, the combination of an induction coil having primary andsecondary windings, forming, respectively, parts of the primary and secondary circuits, an interrupter for the primary circuit, a distributor for the secondary circuit, parallel driving and driven shafts, the latter dlriving said interrupter and distributor, mechanism for transmitting power from said driving shaft to said driven shaft, and a housing comprising one casing for said shafts and mechanism, and another for said coil and distributor, the second-mentioned casing having removable means providing for the dismounting of said coil and said distributor without removing the body of such casing from the first-mentioned casing.

15. In an ignition instrument taking current from an outside source, the combination. of an induction coil having primary and sec-, ondary windings, .forming, respectively, parts of the primary and secondary circuits, an interrupter for the primary circuit, a dis tributor forthe secondary circuit, parallel driving and driven shafts, the latter driving said interrupter and distributor, mechanism for transmitting power from said driving shaft to said driven shaft, and a housing comprising one casing for said shafts and mechanism, and another for said coil and distributor, the second-mentioned casing having a removable cover plate providing for the dismounting of said coil.

16. In an ignition instrument taking current from an outside source, the combination of an induction coil having primary and secforming, respectively, parts of the prima an interrupter for t e primary circuit, a disand) secondary circuits,

tributor for the secondary circuit, parallel} distributor," the seconds-mentioned casing driving and driven shafts, the latter driving having a removable cover plate providing said interrupter and distributor, mechanism for the-dismounting of said distributor. for transmitting power from'said dlriving Intestimony whereof, I have signed my- 5 shaft to said driven shaft, and a housing name to this specification. comprising one casing for said shafts and v mechanism, and another for said coil and -ADOLPH ROSNER- 

